Electrically controlling motors from a distance.



No. 736,476. PATENTBD AUG. 1a, 1903.

w. BAXTBR, JR.

ELEOTRIGALLY CONTROLLING MOTORS FROM A DISTANCE.

APPLICATION FILED APLM. 1901.

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1901.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H0 MODEL.

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w. BAXTER, JR.

ELEOTRIGALLY CONTROLLING MOTORS FROM A DISTANCE. APPLIOATION FILED APR.24. 1901.

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UNITED STAT S rather August 18, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRICALI Y CONTROLLING MOTORS FROM A DISTANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,476, dated August18, 1903.

Application filed April 24, 1901. Serial No. 57,166. (No model.)

To wZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that IAVILLIAM BAXTER, Jr. a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Jersey Oity,in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements inElectrically Imparting and Controlling Motion from a Distance, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relatesin general to a system of electrically impartingto a distant mechanism a desired certain and definite form or degree ofmotion. More specifically, the invention relates to the adaptation ofthe aforesaid general idea to controlling electric motors from a pointdistant from the controller that regulates the supply of current to themotor. The general idea is fully illustrated in the particular use towhich I have herein adapted the invention.

In carrying out the specific form of the invention I employ amotor-controller comprising switches, rheostats, &c., adapted to stop,start, reverse, and vary the speed of the motor, an electromagneticdevice, which I call the controller-mover, for operating the controller,and an operating-switchfor controlling the action of thecontroller-mover. The motor-controller will generally be referred to asthe controller, while the switch which controls the action of thecontroller-mover will be called the operating-switch.

This invention may be used wherever a controller or controllingdevice-whether an electric, a hydraulic, a pneumatic, or a mechanicalcontroller,or of whatever type or for'whatever purpose-is located. at adistance from the point from which its motion is to be controlled. Insome such cases the position of the controller and the location of theoperatin g-switch are fiXedas,for example,in hoisting-machines used ondocks, Where the hoister is stationary at one point and the operator islikewise stationary at anotherpoint. In other cases the operating-pointis stationary, while the controller moves-as, for example, where themotor is mounted upon a car that runs back and forth on a swinging craneor bridge. In still other cases the controller is stationary, while thepoint from which it is controlled moves-as, for example, in passengerand freight elevators, in which the elevator-machine is stationary insome convenient position in the building, while the elevator-car, whichis the point, of control, moves up and down the elevator-well. In allthese cases the controller and the controller-mover are placed on ornear the motor, while the operating-switch is placed at the point fromwhich the motor is controlled. In order that the action of thecontroller-mover may be controlled by the operating-switch, it isnecessary that the two be electrically connected with each other. Hencecircuit-wires are run from the operating-switch to the controller-mover.

The operation of my invention will be clearly understood upon referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates the systemcomplete. Figs. 2 and 3 show modifications of a portion of theoperating-switch. Figs. & and 5 show modifications of a portion of thecontroller-mover. Fig. (3 shows certain safety appliances which areintended to come in action in the event of certain disarran gements ofthe circuit connections between the operating-switch and thecontroller-mover. Fig. 7 shows a plurality of operating-switches throughwhich the con troller-mover may be controlled from any one of a numberof points. Fig. 8 shows diagram 'matically an arrangement by which asingle operating-switch may be made to control a plurality ofcontroller-movers. Fig. 9 is a diagram of an arrangement by which themotor controller produces the circuit changes in the motors through themedium of a number of independent switches.

In Fig. 1, M represents a shunt-wound motor, f f being the shuntfield-coils, and A the armature. 0 represents the controller, and B thecontroller-mover, mounted on the same shaft or suitably-connectedshafts. E is the operating-switch, and 6 and 7 are wires forming thecircuit connections between said operating-switch and thecontroller-mover B.

The controller 0 is represented in such a form as to be capable ofreversing the direction of rotation of the motor, as Well as to vary itsvelocity. It is evident, however, that this very controller can be usedwith a motor that is not to be reversed by simply turning theswitch-lever 25 in one direction only. In other words, one-half of thecontroller-contacts, together with the lever 25, constitute aunidirec-ICC tional controller. As the invention is applicable to non-reversibleas well as reversible motors, I do not restrict its use to a singletype, and, as clearly shown in the drawings, it is adapted to eithertype of motor without modification, although in practice for aunidirectional motor the controller would be simplified by omitting theunnecessary contacts.

. WVhen the lever 25 is turned, say, in the direction in which the handsof a clock move, its bridging contacts 26 and 27, which are insulatedfrom each other and from surrounding objects, form electricalconnections between the terminals 20 and 23 through contact 26 and alsobetween 18 and the first of the three terminals in the line 38 throughcontact 27. IVith these connections if the circuit is complete up towires 14 and 19 the current 19 will pass to terminal 20 and thencethrough 26 to 23 and through the dotted connection will reach terminal24 and then wire 37, which leads to one of the armature-terminals.Returning from the armature through wire 36 the current will passthrough the three resistances 34, 33, and 32 and reach wire 28, which isconnected with the first small terminal in the line 38. From thisterminal, through the bridging contact 27, the circuit is closed withterminal 18, which is connected through the branch 15 with wire 14. Thusthe circuit through the motor-arm ature is closed with the threeresistances 32 33, and 34 in series. From the connection 21 a current isshunted through wire 66 to terminal 43, and this terminal is connectedwith 45 through the insulated bridging contact 40 of lever 25. Fromterminal 45 the current flows through wire 54 to the junction 59 of theshunt-coil terminals, and after passing through the coils f f inparallel branches rea ches junction 58 and thence passes through wire 53to controller-terminal 47, which is connected with 48 by means of theinsulated bridging contact 41, mounted on lever 25. From terminal 48 thecurrent flows through wire 49 to junction 69 on wire 14, thus completingthe shunt-circuit between 19 and 14. If the controller-lever 25 is leftin this position, the speed of the motor will be slow, because thearmature-currentwill have to pass through the resistances 32 33 34,which will absorb a considerable portion of the electromotive force ofthe operating-current. If le- Ver 25 is advanced far enough to bringcontact 27 over the second terminal in line 38, the resistance 32 willbe cut out of the armature-circuit, the current passing through wire 29instead of through wire 28, and while the lever is in this position thespeed of the motor will be higher than when the lever was in the firstposition. If lever 25 is advanced to a position where contact 27 coversthe third terminal in line 38, resistance 33 will be cut out of thearmaturecircuit, the current passing through wire 30. In this thirdposition of lever 25 the speed will be greater than when the lever wasin either of the two preceding positions, as less resistance is left inthe armature-circuit. If lever 25 is advanced to the fourth position,contact 27 will cover the elongated end terminal in line 38. Then thecurrent will flow through wire 36 to 31, and thus cut out all theresistance in the armature-circuit, and thereby further increase thespeed of the motorbeing controlled. These four positions of lever 25will give four different speeds of the motor-armature. To furtherincrease the speed,it is necessary to either reduce the field magnetismor reduce the number of effective conductors upon the armature. In thearrangement shown in the drawings the field magnetism is reduced toobtain higher speeds. As will be seen, the field shunt-coils f f areconnected in parallel, the wire being so wound that if the currentpasses in at junction 59 and out at 58 all the turns in both coils willact to magnetize the field or will be positive turns. If the currententers at 65 and passes out at 60, then through the turns between 65 and59, and between 60 and 58, the currents will flow in the oppositedirection, thus converting these into negative turns. If the currententers at 64 and passes out at 61, the number of negative turns will bedoubled, and if the current enters at 63 and passes out at 62 the numberof negative turns Willbe three tim es as great. Thus by changing thepoint of entry of the current from 50 to 65, 64,and 63 four differentstrengths of field magnetism can be obtained, and therefore fourarmature speeds. It will be seen from the upper portion of controller 0that if lever 25 is advanced beyond the fourth position that at thefifth position, while maintaining the connection through its lower end,its upper contact 40 will connect 43 with the first small terminal inline 45,while its contact 41 will connect terminal 48 with the firstsmall terminal in the line 47, and thus cause the current to enter thefield-coilsthrough 65 and pass out through 60. In the sixth position of25, 43 is connected with the second terminal in the line 47, and 48 isconnected with the second terminal in the line 47, thus admitting thecurrent to the field-coils through 64 and out through 61. In the sameway the seventh position of 25 sends the current through the field-coilsfrom 63 to 62, thus developing the weakest field and giving the highestspeed.

In order that the controller (1 may operate most satisfactorily, it isdesirable that it be moved to fixed points for the several speeds. Thesepointsare commonlycalled steps, and the controller that is moved asshown in the drawings is said to have seven steps. If the lever 25 doesnot move to the exact position, it may not make perfect contact with allthe stationary terminals, and thus permit arcs to be formed, which willsoon destroy the parts. Controllers of the type shown at C are commonlyused with motors in cases where the operator stands near the controllerand moves the lever 25 by means of a crank or lever attached to the studaround which 25 swings. The controllers used with electricrailway carsare of this general principle, although not of similar construction, thelever being generally replaced by a cylinder and the stationaryterminals being somewhat modified, a crank on the shaft upon which thecylinder is mounted being turned to bring the cylinder to the severalsteps. To insure moving the cylinderto the proper position at each step,marks are placed on the top cover of the controller, and a pointer isattached to the crank-handle. \Vhen the pointer comes opposite a mark,the cylinder is in the proper position for the step represented by themark. To further insure moving the cylinder to the proper positions, acam-wheel is generally attached to the cylinder-shaft, and this hasdepressions corresponding to the several steps. A roller is mounted atone side of the cam and is pressed against it by a spring, so that whenthe motorman turns the crank-handle he can feel when the roller dropsinto a depression, and thus know that the cylinder is in the properposition without looking at the top dial. In like manner to be able touse a controller such as O and operate it from a distant pointsatisfactorily it is desirable to --provide means whereby lever 25 maybe moved positively and with precision from step to step and not beliable to be moved a step andafraction more or fall short of moving afull step. 1t is further desirable that the op erator at the distantpoint may know to what step controller 0 has been moved.

The object of this invention is to provide electricallyactuated meansfor effecting this positive movement of lever 25 that will avoid thenecessity for conveying the whole work ing current to and from the pointof control, which would involve the use of heavy cables leading to andfrom said point and a large controller at said point, a small currentderived from the main current being transmitted to such point in aunidirectional constantlyclosed parallel circuit of small conductors,and there distributed to the controller-movers by a small switch, thusnecessitating but three small wires through which to effect entirecontrol of the apparatus.

The controller-mover B can be mounted upon the same shaft with lever 25,as suggested by dotted lines in Fig. 1, or it can be arranged to impartmotion to the latter through any gearing that is positive and does notpermit slipping. For the purpose of the present illustration we willassume that the armature D of mover B is mounted upon the same shaft asthe lever 25.

The outer ring of mover B is a field-magnet and is magnetized by twosets of coils 8 8 and 9 9. The coils 9 9 acting alone will develop amagnetic flux that will cross the central space in the direction ofarrow 70, and coils 8 8 acting alone will develop magnetic lines offorce that will cross the central space in the direction of arrow 72.and S 8 have the same number of turns and If thecoils 9 9 are traversedby currents of equal strength, their magnetizing forces will be equal,and as a result if both act at the same time the actual field will bethe resultant of these two magnetizations and will be in the directionof arrow 71. If the current flowing through the coils 9 9 is strongerthan that flowing through the coils 8 S, the resultant field will be ina direction somewhere between arrows and 71. If the stronger currentflows in the coils 8 8, the direction of the resultant field will bebetween arrows 71 and 72. From these facts it follows that by increasingthe current in one or the other set of field-coils the direction of themagnetic field can be caused to swing around from a position nearly inline with arrow 70 to a position nearly in line with arrow 72.

The field-ring consists of an iron core upon which the coils 9 9 and 8 Sare wound. The armature Dis made of iron, and as the airgaps between itspole-faces and the core of the field-ring are shorter than the distancebetween the sides of the core and the field it will be drawn into aposition parallel with the field-magnets lines of force. Hence to beable to move D to any desired position all that is necessary is toprovide means whereby the currents fiowing through the coils 8 8 and 9 9may be proportioned so as to swing the field magnetization into thatposition.

The operating-switch E provides a means for accomplishing the abovepurpose. I11 this switch resistances (shown at 5) are connected inseries, and from their junctions connections are run to the terminals 4.If the switch-lever 3 is in the central position, as shown, it willdivide the resistance equally, so that if a current is supplied throughwire 2 it will divide equally on passing from 3 through the resistances5 5, and thus the currents flowing through the wires 6 and 7 to the twosets of field-coils 8 8 and 9 9 will be equal, and as a result the fieldmagnetization will be in the direction of arrow 71. If lever 3 is turnedtoward the left, resistance will be cut out of wire-6 circuit and willbe added to the wire-7 circuit. Hence the current through coils S 8 willbe increased and that through coils 9 9 will be decreased, thus causingthe fields magnetic lines of force to swing around in the direction ofarrow 72. If lever 3 is moved toward the right, the magnet-flux will beswung in the opposite directionthat is, toward arrow 70. It is evidentthat to swing the field-flux of mover B to any position between arrows70 and 71 or between 71 and 72 all that is necessary is to properlyproportion the resistances 5 5. It is further evident that if with agiven difference of potential between the lever 3 and the junction 10the field-flux is swung into a certain position for a given position oflever 33, itwill ever after swing to the same position when lever 23 ismoved to the corresponding position.

Although the armature D will be carried around by the magnetism of thefield, the rotative force or torque developed may not be sufficient tomove a large controller. Therefore for the purpose of increasing thistorque a coil is wound upon D, and this is connected with the maincircuit, or may be included in the armature-circuit, as is shown by thewires 13 and 14.

The current for magnetizing the field of mover-B can be shunted from themain line or it can be obtained from a separate source, such as astorage battery. In l the current is derived from the main line.

vOperation: When the main switch S is closed, the current passes atpoint 1 to wire 2 and thence through the operating-switch E and thewires 6 7 to the field-coils of B and to junction 10,thence through wire11 to junction 12 on wire 13, and thence back to the opposite side ofthe main line. If the lever 3 is in the central position, D will remainwith its poles in the line 71, as shown. If arm 3 is moved to the firstterminal to the right, I) will swing to the first position to theleft-thati s,through one step. XV hen D is in the central position, thecircuit through the coil wound thereon is opened, because lever 25 is inthe central position and there is no connection between wire 1% and 19.0, however, can move with little resistance through the first step, asit is onlyretarded by the shaft friction. Hence the torque developed bythe attraction of the field flux upon the iron core of D will be sufficient to produce the movement through the first step. \Vhen this stepis made, the lever 25 closes the circuit between wires 14 and 19 throughthe motor armature, and th en all the current that passes through themotor-arm ature will also pass through the coil wound on D, and thusgive it a definite inherent polarity and greatly increase its torque. Ifnow the lever 3 is moved to the second, third, fourth, due. terminals,the armature D wiil be carried around to corresponding positions by theshift ing field flux of- B. If lever 3 is carried around to the lastterminal, D will likewise be carried around to the last step, and if 3is now moved back to the central position D will follow its movement.Thus it will be seen that through the operating-switch E and thecontroller-mover B means are provide-d for effecting a positive movementof the controller lever 25 from step to step either to increase ordecrease the speed of the motor, and the movement is at least aspositive as the lever 25 were actually moved by the hand of theoperator, and this result is obtained without passing to and through theoperating-switch of the current that actuates the controllermover or themotor. The control should be more positive, because the lever 3 can bemade small, so as to move very freely and be moved with precision, whilethe lever 25, being large and moving with considerable resistance, canwhen moved by hand he carried beyond the mark occasionally on account ofa sudden increase or decrease in the resistance to motion.

In Fig. 1 the resistances in operating-switch E are shown connected inseries, but this is not essential, as any connection will meet therequirements providin it is such that the movement of lever 3 W1 1increase the resistance in one of the circuits of wires 6 or '7 orreduce it or increase it in one while reducing it in the other.

flfodtfied operating-8waches-Fig. 2 shows a way in which the resistancescan be arranged so that when switch-arm 3 is in the central positionthere is no resistance in either circuit, but if 3 is moved to the rightthe current passes directly from terminal 101 to wire 6, while to reachwire '7 it must pass through one of the resistances 101. By making theseresistances larger as they proceed from the center toward the sides theprogressive move ment of arm 3 will increase the resistance in thecorresponding circuit, while leaving the other circuit withoutresistance.

Fig. 3 shows another way of arranging the resistances which may be moredesirable than Fig. 2. In this case the resistances are arranged inparallel, as shown at R R, and when arm 3 is moved to one side or theother the number of resistances placed in parallel in the circuit onthat side is progressively increased, thus reducing the actualresistance on that side, while on the other side it remains unchanged.This arrangement can be reversed, so that the movement of arm 3 willdisconnect resistances, and thus increase the resistance of one in thecircuits. I prefer the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, because all theresistance is placed in series and is transferred from one circuit tothe other by the movement of arm 3, thus effecting a greater variationin the strength of the two currents than can be obtained by the sameamount of resistance if arranged as in either of the other figures.

In cases where the construction of the con troller is such that itcannot move with sufficient freedom through the first step to be movedby the torque of armature D when no current flows through the coil woundupon it and which is connected with the wires 13 and 14 a second coil acan be provided on the armature D, and through this the field-currentscan be passed after they have reached the junction 10, as is shown inFig. 4, the current passing through wire a to a and leaving the latterthrough wire 11, which corresponds to wire 11 of Fig. 1.

Scfiety-switcln-In Fig. 1 it will be noticed I that if the current-supply through wire 2 fails the controller-mover B becomes inactive andthat if eitherone of the circuits 6 or 7 becomes interrupted while acurrent flows in 2 D will be carried around to the position that setsthe motor in motion. In cases of this kind it is evident that the mostdesirable thing to do is to open the circuit through the motor, so thatit cannot be used until the defect is repaired. To accomplish thisresult, I make use of magnetically-operated switches that '80 with thesame effect.

may impart motion to the controller.

are controlled by the currents flowing in the circuits of wires 2 6 7.The arrangement of these switches is shown in Fig. 6, in which threeswitches are shown, each one being actuated by the current fio wing inone circuit. The magnet acts to keep the circuit closed and the spring83 or some other opposing force as, for example, gravityacts to pull itopen. If the circuit through 2 should be ruptured, the magnet of 82would become deenergized and the switch would be pulled open, thusbreaking the circuit in wire 1%, which, as shown in Fig. 1, leads thecurrent to the armature of the motor. If circuit 6 is ruptured, themagnet of 81 will be energized and this switch will be pulled up andopen the circuit in 14, while a rupture in 7 will operate switch Whenthe main switch S is open, the magnet-switches are all open; but as soonas S is closed the current passes through 2 to 6 and 7 and thusenergizes all the magnet-switches and closes the circuit through 14, sothat when the operating-switch E is moved the current can pass to themotor- 5 armature. I thus introduce into one of the principalcontrolling-circuits electromagnetic devices controlling said circuitand bring such electromagnetic devices each under the control of one ofthe circuits of the controllermover, the balance or certain specificimbalance in which is relied upon to determine the position of thecontroller, so that if the balance or imbalance created by theoperatingswitch is disturbed the motor under control is renderedinoperative.

.lfodzfications ofcontrollcr-more). In Figs. 1, 4c, and 6, B is shown asconsisting of a ringshaped field-magnet with a shuttle-formed armature;but it can be seen at once from Fig. 5 that D can be Wound with thecoils 8 8 and E) 9 and thus become the field, while the ring can in likemanner be wound to act as the armature. It can also be seen that eitherthe ring or D can be made stationary, so that the controller can beconnected with either one providing this one is movable, so that it Itwill also be seen that it is not necessary to make the outer member inthe form of a ring. In fact, any of the many designs used for electricmotors can be used for the controller-mover B. If only two coils 8 8 andtwo coils 9 9 are used, the apparatus will belong to the bipolar type,since the field will have only two poles. A multipolar construction canbe made by increasing the number of 8 Sand 9 9 coils in precisely thesame way as is done in motor designs. The wires 13 11, connecting thecoil on D with the circuit, are shown as if rigidly connected; but itwill be understood that as l) rotates through a considerable angle thecurrent is transmitted to its coil or coils either through slidingcontacts or flexible cables.

The design, of controller 0 shown in Fig. 1 is only diagrammatic and hasbeen used, as it shows the various circuit connections clearly, but asmy invention does not relate to the construction of the controller Iclaim it in connection with any form of controller that will perform therequired functions. \Vhile I have shown a specific arrangement ofcircuits in the motor-field and armature, I do not confine myself to theuse of this particular arrangement, but claim the method of moving thecontroller by means of the mover B and the switch E broadly inconnection with any arrangement of motor-circuits.

llfom'ng plurality of c0 ntr0ZZers.It will be seen at once that thecontroller-mover B can be made to move two or more controllers at thesame time by having these strung one after the other on the same shaftor by connecting with each one by means of suitable gearing. Hence I donot confine myself to the use of a single controller,but claim, broadly,the operation of one or any number of controllers and motors by means ofthe controller-mover B. It will further be seen from Fig. 8 that thecircuits 6 and 7 can be divided into any number of branches and that ineach branch a controllermover can be connected. Thus with a singleoperating-switch E any number of controller-movers B D can be operated.An arrangement of this kind would be required in the operation of atrain of cars when two or more cars are provided with motors, and thefirst-named arrangement of operating two or more controllers with onecontrollermover would be required for each car if it carried two or moremotors connected in independent circuits. Therefore I do not restrictmyself to the use of a single controller-mover, but I claim, broadly,the operation of one or any number of controller-movers by means of asingle operating-switch.

As sh own in Fig. 8,0ne switch E is connected so as to operate a numberof controller-movers. As will be noticed, switches 25 are provided inall the wires 6 and in all the wires 7, so that any of thecontroller-movers B may be cut out, if desired, but all can be operatedat the same time, as is indicated in the drawing.

Plurality of operating-switches.It is also evident from Fig. 7 that thecircuit-wires 6 and 7 can be branched off and run to two or moreoperating switches E, and there are many cases where such an arrangementis requiredas, for example, in elevators that are operated from thevarious floors as well as from the car. Therefore I do not limit myselfto the use of a single operating-switch, but claim, broadly, the use ofany number of operating-switches connected in parallel with each otherbetween the wire 2 and the wires 6 and 7 whether said wires 6 and 7 leadto a single motor-mover or to several.

By having a number of operatirig-switches placed in different positionsand arranged with necessary switches, by means of which any one may beconnected with the wires 2, (3, and 7, if there are, say, four points AB G D from which it is necessary to operate the motor at different timesthe operator can go to any one of these points and by closing theswitches that connect the switch E at that point with the circuits 2 6 7be able to operate the controller-mover providing all the other switchesE are disconnected.

Referring again to Fig. 7, while the wire 2 is permanently connectedwith the arm 3 of all the switches small switches 25 are inserted in allthe wires 6 and 7, so as to operate the controller-mover B from any oneof the switches E. Such a one is connected by closing its switches i,and all the other switches E are disconnected by opening their switches25. In the figure the center switch E is shown active and the others areinactive.

As has already been stated, the controllermover B can be made in avariety of forms for instance, as shown in Fig. 5. In this constructionthe field-magnet takes the part of the movable member D and is woundwith a coil connected in the main circuit by the wires 13 and 14. Thearmature performs the function of the ring in Fig. 1 and is wound withtwo coils S and 9, which are the equivalents of the same numbered coilsin Fig. 1. In Fig. 1, as well as in Fig. 6, the coils S and 9 are shownat right angles to each other, but they can be at a greater or at asmaller angle. If the angle is reduced,the resultant magnetic flux willbe greater, but the angle through which it can be deflected byvariations in the currents through coils 8 and 9 will be reduced. If theangle is increased, the resultant magnetic flux will be reduced, but theangle through which it can be deflected will be increased. The angle atwhich the coils will be placed in any particular case will depend uponthe conditions to be fulfilled.

Operating plurality of switches instead of c0ntr0ZZer.-It is-commonpractice at the present time to use a number of switches to perform thefunctions of the controller 0. Thus a reversing-switch may be used tostop and start and reverse the motor, and another switch may be used tocut out the resistance in the armature-circuit and make any othercircuit connections used for varying the speed. Instead of using twoswitches a number may be used, one for running in one direction and onefor running in the opposite direction and one for each change in thecircuit connections required to produce the various speeds. Theseseveral switches can be operated mechanically or by means ofelectromagnets. The latter arrangement is the one most commonly used,and Fig. 9 illustrates the way in which the controller 0 in Fig. 1 wouldact to operate a number of electromagnetic switches. In this figure, s srepresent a reversing-switch, which is moved so as to connect the motorfor one direction of rotation by means of the electromagnet L, and bymeans of the electromagnet B it is connected so as to run in theopposite direction. The magnet m acts to cut the resistance 32 out ofthe armature-circuit and magnet 91 cuts out resistance 33, while magnet2) acts to cut out a portion of the shunt fieldcoils. The magnets are ofthe solenoid type and the connectors g, h, and 13 are insulated. As willbe seen, the movement of the lever 25 of the controller 0 makes andbreaks the circuits through the several electromagnets.

If the switches shown in Fig. 9 were operated mechanically, the movableparts of all of them would be actuated by the movable part of thecontroller B, which could be accomplished by any suitable mechanism forimparting the motion of B to the movable parts of the switches.

The construction of the switches in Fig. 9 and the means employedto movesuch s witches mechanicallybymeans of the controller-mover B form noessential part of my invention. Therefore they need not be more fullyillustrated or explained herein. The main feature of my invention is themeans whereby the controller 0 may be caused to move positively step bystep from a point which is more or less distant or, in otherwords,whereby the controller is moved step by step without theapplication of manual force either directly to the movable part of thecontroller or through mechanical motion-transmission devices of anykind.

As can be readily seen, the movement of the armature D of thecontroller-mover can be utilized to impart motion to any kind ofcontroller,whetherelectrical, hydraulic, mechanical, or otherwise, or toany device that it may be desired to move through definite distances orover a certain distancewith a definite speed. For example, D can beconnected with a valve that controls the flow of a liquid or gas throughpipes, and by moving the lever 3 of E to diiferent positions the valvewill be opened or closed to definite positions. If it is desired to openor close the valve gradually, making the entire range of movement in acertain definite time, the result can be accomplished by providing theswitch E with numerous contacts, so that the variation of currentstrength in the coils 8 and 9 may be made practically a graduating one,and thus the movement of the valve will become practically a uniformprogression, although, speaking in strict accuracy, it will consist of aseries of very short movements. Inasmuch as the movement of the armatureD can be utilized in various ways, as explained in the foregoing, I donot restrict myself to its use in connection with motor-controllersonly, but claim its use for any purpose where it is desired to produce adefinite form of motion at a distant point, whether such motion consistsof a stepby-step progression or of a uniform advance or retrogression.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Pat-ent, is-

1. As a means for developing fromadistant point defined movements in thecontroller of an electric circuit, the combination of an electromagneticcontroller-mover comprising two relatively movable members, one of whichacts as a field and has a plurality of magnet izing-coils connected inparallel circuits and developing magnetic fluxes in angularly'differentdirections, conductors for supplying current to said parallel circuitsindependently and means for differentiating from the distant point thecurrent supplied to these circuits; the other memberbeing wound withcoils that develop magnetic flux in a single direction, connected inparallel with the two parallel circuits of the field and in series withthe circuit through the controller; and circuit connections connectingthe parallel field-circuits in parallel with the circuit which thecontroller controls.

2. In combination with an electric controller, a controller-mover havinga magnetic field formed of a plurality of coils connected in parallelcircuits which form a closed loop and producing magnetic fluxes at anangle with each other, said loop being connected in a ci-rcuit inparallel relation with the circuit that is being controlled, and meansfor varying the current supplied to the respective coils; an armatureprovided with coils connected in series with the circuit through thecontroller and being arranged to be opened and closed when the circuitthat is controlled is opened and closed, thereby shutting cit thecurrent through the armature-coils when the controller is turned to theinactive position.

In combination with an electric controller, means for actuating saidcontroller from a number of distant points which consist in acontroller-mover mechanically connected with the controller, comprisingtwo elements cooperating to produce relative movement between them, oneacting as a field and having a: )lurality of magnetizingcoils exertingtheir magnetizing efforts in lines at an angle with each other, andconnected in parallel with the main circuit; the other element acting asan armature and having coils connected in series with the main circuit;connections between one of the terminals of each field-circuit and oneside of the main circuit, connections between the other ends of thesecircuits and the several distant points, means at these distant pointsfor connecting these connections with the other side of the main circuitwhereby the field-circuits may be closed through any one of the distantpoints, and means at these points for differentiating the currentflowing through the two parallel field-circuits from these distantpoints.

4. In an electromagnetic device through which to develop a determinedmovement of a current-controlling switch from a distant point, thecombination of a circuit-closer at the distant point, an electromagneticmover consisting of two members, one of which de velops a magnetic fieldand the otherof which acts as an armature, a circuit connecting thecoils of the armature in series with the main line, so that it receivesthe main-line current that passes through the current-controllingswitch, independent circuits connecting the different coils of the fieldwith the conductors of the main line on opposite sides of thecurrent-controlling switch and bringing the said coils of the field inparallel with the main line and in series with the circuit-closer, and arheostat, the sections of which are in circuit with the parallelfield-circuits and are introduced into one of said fieldcircuits and cutout of the other by the action of said circuitcloser, for the purposeset forth.

5. In an electromagnetic controller-mover, the combination of a mainline, an armature having its coils connected in series with the mainline, a field wound with coils connected in parallel circuits leading toa distant point, said coils developing magnetic fluxes in differentmagnetic circuits at an angle to each other, an operating -switchconnected with both the parallel circuits of the field-coils, aresistance introduced in said parallel circuits so as to be cut in orout of either of the fieldcoil circuits, by said operating-switch, andvary the magnetizing force of said coils and the angular position of theresultant magnetic flux of their combined field of force without openingthe circuits or changing the direction of the current.

6. In an electromagnetic CODEIOIIGIJXIOVGI, the combination of a mainline, an armature having its coils connected in series with the mainline, a field wound with coils connected in parallel circuits leading toa distant point, said coils developing magnetic fluxes in differentmagnetic circuits at an angle to each other, an operatingswitchconnected with both the parallel circuits of the field-coils, aresistance introduced in said parallel circuits so as to be cut in orout of either of the fieldcoil circuits, by said operating-switch, andvary the magnetizing force of said coils and the angular position of theresultant magnetic flux of their combind field of force and circuitconnections between the ends of the parallel coil-circuits and theopposite sides of the main line, whereby the field and operatingswitchare connected in parallel with the main circuit.

7. The combination of a main circuit, a controller, for said maincircuit, a controllermover comprising an armature and a field, thearmature having its coils connected in series in said main circuit, andin parallel relation with the field-coils of the controller-mover; saidfield wound with coils connected in parallel circuits leading to adistant point, said coils developing magnetic fluxes in differentmagnetic circuits at an angle with each other, an operating-switchconnected with the parallel field-circuits, a resistance introduced insaid parallel circuits so as to be cut in or out of either of them bysaid operating-switch,and vary the magnetizing force of said coils andthereby the angular position of the resultant magnetic field, andcircuit connections between the ends of the parallel field-coil circuitsand the opposite sides of the main circuit whereby the field an d theopera-tin g-switch are connected in parallel relation with the maincircuit, and the circuit connections of the field-coils are notdisturbed when the circuit through the armature is'interrupted.

8. The combination of an electric supplycircuit, a controller introducedtherein, an armature mechanically connected with the moving part of saidcontroller, and having its winding introduced in series in the supply-circuit, and therefore, under control of the controller, a field ininductive relation to said armature, and having a plurality of windingsexerting magnetic influence in different lines at an angle to eachother, parallel circuits connectingthe respective fieldwindings inparallel with the supply-circuit whereby said field is normally excited,and the resistance and operating-switch introduced in said parallelcircuits, an auxiliary winding on the armature also in shunt with thesupplycircuit whereby the armature is initially excited until it movesthe controller sufficiently to close the circuit.

9. In combination with a main supply-circuit and a motor controller, anelectricallyactuated controller-mover having an element introduced inseries in the circuit to be controlled, and also an auxiliary winding onsaid element introduced in said circuit in parallel, and a suitableoperating-switch for said controller-mover. i

10. In combination with an electric controller, means for actuating saidcontroller from a distance comprising a controller-mover.

B having a movable member D magnetized by coils connected in series withthe main circuit, imparting its mevement to the controller, and astationary member: magnetized by a plurality of coils acting todevelopmagnetic fluxes in different directions, said coils beingconnected in parallel circuits forming branches of a circuit derivedfrom the main circuit, and in parallel relation to the armature-circuit,an actuating-switch E for varying the strength of the current flowingthrough the two field-coil circuits of said controller, the switch Ebeing located at a point distant from the controller, suitableelectrical connections between the controller-mover and the switch, andbetween the switch and the main circuit, and mechanical connectionsbetween the armature of D and the controller whereby movement may bedeveloped in the movable member of D by the movement of E at the distantpoint and said movement be imparted to the controller.

11'. In combination with a controller-mover having a plurality ofmagnetizing-coils for the purpose set forth, and parallel circuitsthrough which said coilsiare independently excited, and an armature withcoils in series with the main circuit, and through which current is cuton or off by the movement of thercontroller; the herein-describedoperating-switch E constructed with resistances connected with itsseveral; contacts, and graduated to correspond to the diiterentiationsin magnetic flux required to change the angular position of theresultant field in concordance with changes in the angular position ofthe switch E whereby the movement of E over the contacts, from step tostep, produces a c0rresponding movement of the controller-mover fromstep to step, and circuit connections whereby said parallel circuits andcoils and operating-switch are connected in parallel with thecontifioller and are not affected by the movements of the controller.

12. In combination with anelectric circuit having a translating devicetherein, such as an electric motor, anda controller in said circuitconstructed to cut the translating device in and out and to graduate itsspeed; the hereindescribed controller-mover controlled in part by anelectric circuit in parallel relation to the-controller-circuit, anduninfluenced by any movement'of the controller, and in part by a circuitinzseries with the controller and thereby controlled by the movements ofthe controller, said controller-mover being movable step by step todifferent positions and havingmechanical connections through which itimparts its motion to the controller substantially as described.

13. In combination with a main electrical circuit, a conductor 2 leadingfrom one of the wires thereof,the switch-arm 3 connected with saidconductori2, a resistance divided in sections which are connected withcontacts over which said switch-arm moves to cut resistance in and outof circuits, conductors 6, 7, connected with said resistance, thecontrollermover B having coils S, 9, connected respectively with thewires 6, 7, and developing separate magnetic fluxes in lines at an angleto each other, a suitably-excited armature Dwith its coils connected inseries in the main circuit and under the influence of said magneticfluxes, the conductor 11, 12, leading from the coils 8, 9, to the otherwire of the main circuit, and a controller having mechanical connectionthrough which it is moved from the armature D.

' 14. In combination with a supply-circuit, a motor in said circuit, anda controller for said motor; the controller-mover, the operating.-switch electrically connected with controllermover, and electromagneticcut-outs introduced in the motor-circuit and controlled by the circuitsof the operating-switch, for the purpose set forth.

15. As a means for actuating from a distant point the controller of aheavy working current of electricity, the combination of the 0011-troller-mover comprising a field of force embodying the plurality ofcoils developing m agnetic fluxes at an angle to each other, and therotating member having a winding connected in series with said pluralityof coils, and a controlling-switch having a plurality of contactsconnected by independent conductors with the respective coils of thearmature of the controller mover; the operating switch and controller-mover being connected in parallel with the circuit of the main current tobe controlled.

16. As a means for actuating from a distant point the controller of aheavy working current of electricity, the combination of thecontroller-mover comprising a magnetic field provided with a pluralityof coils developing magnetic fluxes at an angle to each other, and therotating member having a winding connected in series with said pluralityof coils,and therefore traversed by all the current flowing through bothfield-circuits, and with an additional coil connected in series with themain circuit, and a controlling-switch having a plurality of contactsconnected by independent conductors with the respective coils of thefield of the controller-mover; the operatingswitch and the field of thecontroller-mover being connected in parallel with the circuit of themain current to be controlled.

17. As a means for actuating from a distant point the controller for aheavy working current of electricity, the combination of a controllermover comprising a field of force formed by a plurality of coilsdeveloping magnetic fluxes at angles one to another and an armaturehaving a main winding receiving current which passes through saidfield-coils and an initially-en ergizing winding conducted in a circuitparallel to the field-circuit, and an actuating-switch having aplurality of contacts connected through independent conductors with therespective coils of said field.

18. The combination of a main circuit, a controller-mover such as hereindescribed, an operating-switch, connecting-lines 2, 6, '7, connectingthe operating switch with the main line and with the controller-mover,magnetically-actuated cut-out switches placed in the main circuit,conductors connecting the magnet-coils of said switches, each one separately, in series with one of the connectinglines 2, 6, 7, and actingwhen traversed by current, to keep the switches closed, and when thecircuit through either of them is interrupted to open a switch, and thusopen the main circuit.

19. The combination of a main line, a controllermover, a controller, anoperatingswitch such as herein described, the circuit connections 2, 6,7, thereof, magnetically-actuated switches introduced in series in thecircuit through the controller and conductors connecting theactuating-magnets of said magnetically-actuated switches in series eachone separately, with one of the circuit-lines 2, 6 or 7, of thecontroller-mover; the magnets acting each one to hold its respectiveswitch closed Whentraversed by current and permitting the switch to openwhen the current through the magnet is interrupted, whereby anyinterruption of the current in any part of the controller-mover fieldwill result in opening its corresponding cut-out switch and therebyopening the main circuit.

20. The combination of a main line, a controller, a controllermover, anoperatingswitch, circuits substantially as herein de scribed, connectingthe operating-switch with the main line and with the controller-moverfield, switches introduced in series in and controlling the maincircuit, a separate magnet actuating each switch, conductors connectingeach of said magnets in series with one of the circuits, including thecontrollermover, the operating-switch and the main line, whereby theinterruption of the current in any one of said conductors willdeenergize its corresponding switch-magnet, and when the magnet isdeenergized, by stoppage of the current in any part of thecontrollermover field-circuit the corresponding cut-out switch will openthe main circuit.

The foregoing specification signed this 22d day of April, 1901.

WVILLIAM BAXTER, JR.

In presence of THOMAS W. PHAIR, STEPHEN H. OLIN.

